After being held in Alberta, Quebec and British Columbia, the Canadian Sledge Hockey Championships are coming to Ontario in 2019! The Woolwich Thrashers Sledge Hockey Club, the Township of Woolwich and the Ontario Sledge Hockey Association are set to welcome sledge hockey teams from across Canada to the Town of Elmira. Games will be played at the Woolwich Memorial Centre from Friday May 10th to Sunday May 12th. 

Learn more about the Canadian Sledge Hockey Championships here.

On March 19, 2019, Finance Minister Bill Morneau tabled his fourth federal budget (the “Budget”), ahead of the next election in October. The Budget, entitled Investing in the Middle Class, claims to provide over $2 billion in funding over six years to remove barriers experienced by people with disabilities and improve the lives of Canadians with chronic health issues. Of particular interest to the disability community include:

• Changes to the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) and the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), 
• New and renewed support for inclusive employment opportunities for people with disabilities, ASD and visual impairments, and 
• Enhanced federal supports for students with disabilities.

View the full budget here.

Connections - A Carizon CAPC Program in partnership with Kinbridge Community Association.

Connections is an 8-week support group for mothers who have experienced interpersonal violence (emotional, verbal, physical, cyber). Group members learn together and support one another to understand how experiencing violence impacts family life and how they can enrich their parenting skills.

Connections information, learning and sharing sessions include:

• Healthy relationships
• Building self-esteem in ourselves and in our children
• Positive effective parenting
• Strengthening our bond with our children
• Strengthening our capacity to parent our childre

Time: Wednesday Mornings 10 am-12 noon, April 3 – May 22, 2019

Location: Kinbridge Community Association 200 Christopher Drive Cambridge, ON

Group sessions are free of charge
Space is limited
Childminding is available
Bus tickets and light snacks provided

To inquire about registration contact Sydney at Carizon: 226-808-7540 or sbell@carizon.ca.

KW Career Compass can help you find meaningful employment!

Job Coaches are available to assist youth and adults with developmental disabilities match interests, skills and career goals to find the perfect fit.

Get help with:

• Resume and Cover Letter Writing

• Interview Preparation

• Skills Assessments

• Job Coaching

• Goal Setting & Job Searching

• Employment Readiness Classes

Fee for service options are available.

To apply, you MUST:

1. Complete and send in the full application and current resume by May 10, 2019 to KW Habilitation:

 Mail or in person: 99 Ottawa Street South, Kitchener, ON, N2G 3S8

 Fax: 519-884-8609

 Email: info@kwcareercompass.org

Please make each application to the Attention of Wil Candlish.

2. Have an intellectual disability (confirmed through a psychological assessment, IEP or DSO)

3. Be able to find own way to and from work and/or classes and appointments. (We can provide bus route training as needed!)

4. Commit to:

- Attending and joining all skill building opportunities.

- Working the scheduled hours/time as set by the employer.

- Only being absent from work/training if you are ill or have an emergency situation to deal with.

5. Have a Social Insurance Number – or be willing to apply for one to have it by June 15, 2018.

If you have any questions about Career Compass Summer Jobs 2019, or need help filling out the application please contact Wil Candlish, Manager at 519-744-6307 ext. 1213 OR by email info@kwcareercompass.org.

Family Alliance Ontario is currently renewing and accepting memberships. The membership year runs from April 1st to March 31st. You can join as an individual or family. Your membership fee helps support organizational expenses and the volunteer efforts of Board Members to represent the individual and family voice.

Learn more about Family Alliance Ontario on their website at https://family-alliance.com/.

Renewal Documents:

• Membership Application
• Family Alliance Ontario Accord:  please review before filling out the application
• Affiliate Application
• Affiliate Process 

Traditional gaming, digital media, video, role play and repetition are used to educate and engage students in a fun and interactive manner.
Students learn life skills that empower them to make safe, caring and respectful decisions in their everyday lives both online and offline.

Date: Sat March 23 & Sun March 24, 1-5pm
Time: 1:00 PM TO 5:00 PM Daily
Place: Kitchener

Cost: $113 (eligible for Passport funding)

WRDSS will reimburse WRDSS members 50% of the registration costs for those that

complete the course.

Learn more or register at https://www.wrdss.ca/event.

The Down Syndrome Association of Simcoe County in partnership with Down Syndrome Association of Ontario have been building support for legislation to ensure that medical professionals are sharing non-biased information with expecting parents, in person and allowing them time to process the diagnosis.

You can participate in the letter-writing campaign to let MPPs know this is important to Ontario's Down syndrome community! All you need to do is enter your name, email address, and postal code, and the letter will be sent to your MPP and to the Minister of Health, Christine Elliott. If you want, you can also edit the letter to add your own story. Click here to participate in the letter wriing campaign.

If you have any questions contact DSASC/DSAO Jen St. Onge at jstonge705@gmail.com.

In this issue of Family Pulse we are excited to share information about Evening of Elegance! Join us as we journey back to our roots for our 5th annual signature fundraising event. Enjoy an elegant evening of mixing and mingling while tasting delicious wine, beer and cider - all paired with appetizing food selections. 

Our spectacular silent auction includes a number of exciting items for you to bid on. We will also have a raffle you won't want to miss! All proceeds go directly to providing resources and facilitating meaningful connections for families, just like yours, of children with special needs. Tickets can be purchased by clicking HERE. 

We also share lots of great information and events happening at WRFN and the community.

Inside this issue:

• WRFN's 5th annual Evening of Elegance
• SEAC Updates
• Helping Your CHild Socially
• What's Happening at WRFN
• Coffee Club update
• Upcoming Community Events

Read the March newsletter online here. Or, download a PDF copy.

Are you looking for programs or activities for you or your child? The KidsAbility Program & Activity guides highlight some of the great programs geared toward both caregivers and children and youth with special needs. They feature KidsAbility, Firefly and community-based activities and resources. 

View the 2019 Spring-Summer Program & Activity Guide.

Waterloo United is proud to introduce the Abilities United team – New for 2019!!  The program is fully inclusive, designed and adapted for children with any disability – we welcome all on the field!  WMSC, in partnership with KidsAbility, is at the forefront of the development of not only soccer programs, but also physical literacy programming and recreation/socialization opportunities.  This is a parent participation program – one support person per player is required. 

Date:  Sundays from June 2 – July 28 (no program June 30)

Time:  10am – 11am

Location:  RIM Park (indoors)

Ages: 4-14 yrs

Cost:  $160 (includes full uniform, ball, medal and team photo.)

For more information visit  https://www.waterloounited.com/camps-skills/abilities-united/.

To register visit https://waterloounited.powerupsports.com/index.php?page=LOGIN.